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Functional Plant Biology Functional Plant Biology Society
Plant function and evolutionary biology
Functional Plant Biology

Functional Plant Biology

Volume 46 Number 4 2019


Plant parasitic nematodes cause major crop losses worldwide. Some of these nematodes have sophisticated mechanisms to invade the roots of important agricultural crops such as wheat, sugarcane and soybean. This review provides a summary of how root-knot, cyst and root-lesion nematodes infect the plant roots, as well as the different approaches used to control and manage these nematodes in Australian agricultural soils.

FP18111Overexpression of a soybean 4-coumaric acid: coenzyme A ligase (GmPI4L) enhances resistance to Phytophthora sojae in soybean

Xi Chen, Xin Fang, Youyi Zhang, Xin Wang, Chuanzhong Zhang, Xiaofei Yan, Yuanling Zhao, Junjiang Wu, Pengfei Xu and Shuzhen Zhang 0000-0002-3311-0092
pp. 304-313

Glyceollins and isoflavones are soybean-derived phytoalexins in response to Phytophthora sojae that causes stem and root rot on soybeans worldwide. To understand the function of Gm4CL, we analysed and found that GmPI4L improves defence against P. sojae by enhancing glyceollins and isoflavones content. This study provides the theoretical foundation for clarifying the mechanism of the phenylpropanoid pathway in disease resistance in soybean.


This is the first study to propose the gene pathway for floral induction in sugarcane. The expression pattern of 21 genes was examined over 24 h to identify cyclic patterns of expression. These profiles are important to determine when floral inductive conditions are perceived by sugarcane and why some varieties may not flower.

FP18224The electrical signal-induced systemic photosynthetic response is accompanied by changes in the photochemical reflectance index in pea

Vladimir Sukhov 0000-0002-8712-9127, Ekaterina Sukhova, Ekaterina Gromova, Lyubov Surova, Vladimir Nerush and Vladimir Vodeneev
pp. 328-338

Wounding-induced electrical signals cause a systemic photosynthetic response in plants. We investigated the influence of electrical signals on photosynthesis and a photochemical reflectance index, which is widely used in remote sensing of plants. Changes in photosynthesis and the index were strongly connected. Thus the photochemical reflectance index can be used in remote sensing of the systemic photosynthetic response in higher plants.

FP18206Physiology and metabolism of grafted bell pepper in response to low root-zone temperature

Moses Kwame Aidoo 0000-0003-0183-4771, Tal Sherman, Naftali Lazarovitch, Aaron Fait and Shimon Rachmilevitch
pp. 339-349

Low temperature is a prominent limiting factor for tropical originated crop production in temperate regions, particularly during cool-season production. The diverse response of rootstocks physiology and metabolism were studied when exposed to aeroponically different temperature regimes at the root zone. The tolerance of grafted bell pepper demonstrated high sink potential contributing to milder reduction of photosynthesis and transpiration during treatment. GC-MS metabolite profiling showed enhance metabolism in leaves, as well as in the roots.

FP18186Nitrogen increases drought tolerance in maize seedlings

Yushuang Song, Jinlu Li, Mingli Liu, Zhe Meng, Kaichang Liu and Na Sui 0000-0003-0411-0162
pp. 350-359

Drought and nitrogen availability are two important environmental factors that affect plant growth and global distribution of plants. We examined the effect of nitrogen on physiological characters of maize seedlings under drought stress and find that moderate nitrogen supply increases plant resistance to drought stress. These findings are important for guiding the agricultural use of nitrogen fertilisers.


Hydroponic systems could be a reliable, versatile and sensitive method to investigate the plant responses to the nanoparticle exposure. As ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and bulk forms possess unique physicochemical characteristics, they are globally used in different industries and may influence plant growth in the environment. As an extensive investigation of the effect of both ZnO NPs and bulk form ZnO on various morphological, physiological and anatomical features of tobacco plants, the present study pinpoints the responses compatible with ZnO-induced stress.

FP18237Promoter deletion analysis reveals root-specific expression of the alkenal reductase gene (OsAER1) in Oryza sativa

Aniversari Apriana, Atmitri Sisharmini, Hajrial Aswidinnoor, Kurniawan R. Trijatmiko and Sudarsono Sudarsono 0000-0003-4688-5628
pp. 376-391

Roots play an important role in dehydration and either soil-related nutrient deficiency or toxicity responses, which may be alleviated by transgenic plants. We evaluated OsAER1 root-specific promoter in transgenic rice and identified cis-acting elements controlling the expression. OsAER1 promoter may have implications in the development of transgenic crops requiring root-specific gene expression aimed at improving responses to dehydration, nutrient deficiency or toxicity stress.

Committee on Publication Ethics

Call for Papers

We are seeking contributions for the following Special Issues. More

Australian Society of Plant Scientists

Official Journal of the Australian Society of Plant Scientists (asps.org.au).

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Best Paper Award

Phan Thi Thanh Hoai has been awarded the ASPS-FPB Best Paper Award for 2023.

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